Lock valve



@@, @935. F1 5 BURNS ET AL Zg? LOCK VALVE Filed April 16, 1934 PatentedOct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK VALVE Application April16, 1934, Serial No. 720,778

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to valves, and more particularly to novelmeans for locking a valve against operation by unauthorized persons, thedevice being particularly adapted for use on gas supply pipes leadinginto homes and other buildings.

One of the salient objects of our invention is the provision of animproved valve for gas supply pipes and the like having novel means forautomatically locking the valve plug against rotation, when the same isturned to its closed position, for shutting off the supply of gas,whereby the valve cannot again be turned to its open position except bypersons in proper authority possessing the correct operating key.

A further important object of our invention is the provision of a noveltype of locking bolt carried by a lock casing formed directly on thecasing of the valve, the bolt being normally urged at all times intoengagement with the valve plug, the valve plug having keeper recessestherein, so that When the plug is turned to its closed position the boltWill automatically engage the walls of the recesses to preventunauthorized operation of the valve.

A further object of our invention is the provision of novel means forforming the locking bolt and the valve plug, whereby remo-val of theplug by unauthorized persons from its casing is prevented Whether or notthe bolt is in locking engagement With the plug- A further object of ourinvention is the provision .of novel means for forming the bolt, Wherebythe same can be readily engaged by its special key and moved to aninoperative non-lockingposition against the tension of its spring, sothat the valve plug can be freely operated.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a removable capassociated with the i0 valve casing for entirely closing the outer endthereof for preventing the entrance of any key or implement into thecasing, the cap being held in place by a frangible seal, so that it isnecessary to break the seal to remove the cap and thereby 45 indicatethatthe valve has been tampered With.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an impro-ved valveof the above character, Which will be durable and efficient in use, onethat will be simple and easy to manufacture, and

50 one which can be placed on the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in vieW, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as Will be 55hereinafter more specifically described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which drawing:-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of our improved valve, with parts-thereofbroken away and in section to illustrate structural details, the valveplug 5 being shown in its shut off position and held against rotation bythe novel locking bolt.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of our improved bolt, looking atright angles from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the improved 10 locking bolt.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through the lock casing on theline 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the lockbolt being shown removed from its casing. 15

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 5through the casing, the view being taken substantially on the line 6-6of 20 Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the valve plug removed from its casing.

Figure 8 is a detail fragmentary View of the key employed for actuatingthe lock bolt. 25

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Agenerally indicates our improved locking valve, which embodies a valvecasing IIJ provided with 30 the usual tapered valve seat, or bore, I Ifor rotatably receiving the tapered valve plug I2.

The valve plug I2 is provided With the diametrically extendingpassageway I3 which is adapted to be moved into and out of registration35 with the valve inlet and outlet. One end of the valve plug I2 isprovided With a polygonal head I4 for facilitating the rotation thereofby a Wrench or like instrument. The opposite end of the valve plug canbe provided with a threaded shank I5 for the receptio-n of a holding nutI6.

The structure above described is conventional, and in accordance withour invention an annular groove II is formed in the Valve plug adjacentto the polygonal head I4, and the inner Wall of this groove is providedat diametrically opposite points With keeper seats, or recesses, I8, thepurpose of which will be later set forth.

Formed integral with the valve casing I0, at one end thereof, is acylindrical barrel, or lock casing, I9 which opens into the bore I I ofthe valve casing. The interior diameter of the barrel, or lock casing,I9 is reduced at its inner end to provide an annular shoulder 20.

Formed at diametrically opposed points in the adapted to ride in theannular groove |1 formedv Y in the valve plug, and to engage in thekeeper recesses I8 when the plug is in its shut on position.

The bolt is provided with an inwardly extending axial bore 25, andarcuate grooves 26 are formed in the opposite sides of the bolt and openinto the bore. bolt and communicate with the arcuate grooves 26 and thebore 25. Formed on the outer face of the bolt, at right angles to theslots 21, are guide ribs 28, and these ribs terminate short of thereduced head 24.

The lock bolt is normally urged toward the valve plug by means of anexpansion coil spring 29 which is conned Within the barrel, or lockcasing, I9. The inner end of the spring bears against the outer end ofthe bolt, and the outer end of the spring bears against the plug 39rigidly fitted Within the outer end of the barrel. This plug 30 isprovided with a keyhole 3| to permit the insertion of a key 32 into thebarrel for engagement with the bolt.

'I'he key 32 includes a. longitudinally extending shank 33 having formedon one end thereof any preferred type of hand grip, and on its other enda key-bit 34 which includes radially extending, diametrically opposedarms.

When the guide ribs 28 rest in the notches 2|,

the bolt is held in a raised position out of thev keeper recesses |8,which allows free rotation of the plug. However, the head 24 of the boltrides in the annular groove |1 and will prevent end- Wise movement ofthe valve plug, should an attempt be made to remove the plug.

When the bolt is rotated so that the ribs 28 Will ride into the slots22, the bolt Will be automatically urged by the spring 29 into eitherone of the keeper recesses |8 when the valve plug is turned to itsVclosed position. This isclearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

When it is desired to unlock the valve, the key 32 is inserted in thebarrel I9 through the keyhole 3| in such a manner that the bit 34 Willride into the slots 21 of the bolt. As the key is rotated, the arms ofthe bit Will ride into the arcuate grooves 2B until the arms are stoppedby the ribs 28. The arms of the bit Will now be rmly connected with thebolt, and hence the bolt can be pulled outwardly against the tension ofits spring. This Longitudinal slots 21 are also formed in the Y willmove the bolt beyond the keeper recesses i8, and hence the valve plugcan be turned to its open position. The key can now be removed.

If the valve is turned to its closed position, the

bolt Will automatically again be seated in one of 5 the keeper recesses|8.

When the valve plug is turned to its closed position and is held againstrotation by the bolt, the key hole 3| can be sealed so as to prevent theinsertion4 of an operating key or any implement 10 into the barrelWithout detection.

This means includes a closure cap 35 which is adapted to t over theouter end of the barrel i9, and the cap, plug 30, and the barrel I9 canbe provided with openings 36 for receiving the Wire 31 15 of la sealV38. Obviously, to remove the cap, it is necessary to break the seal.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that We have provided anovel and simple form of lock valve, which Will be particularly usefulon 20 gas supply pipes.

Changes in details may be made Without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invenL tion, but what We'claimras new isz- 1.A valvecomprising a casing, a valvev plug in 25 said casing having an annulargroove therein, the inner wall of said groove beingprovided at spacedpointsV with keeper recesses, and a radially extending barrel formed onthe casing communicating with the interior thereof, the barrel being 30provided with an interior annular shoulder provided With diametricallyopposed notches and longitudinally extending guide grooves at rightangles to the notches, and a key-operated bolt slidably mounted in thebarrel, spring means nor- 35 mally urging the bolt toward the annulargroove and the keeper recesses, thev bolt having radially extending ribsadapted to seat in the notches when the bolt is in one position, and insaid longitudinal grooves when the bolt is in still another position. 4G

2. A valve comprising a casing, a rotatable valve plug in said casinghaving an annular groove therein, the inner Wall of said groove beingprovided at diametrically opposed'points with keeper recesses, a barrelformed on the casing and com- 45 municating with the interior thereof,the barrel being provided with an interior annular groove having formedtherein diametrically opposed recesses and longitudinally extendingslots at right angles to said recesses, and a key-operated bolt 50slidably mounted in the barrel provided With longitudinally extendingribs adapted to seat in the recesses when the bolt is in one position,and in said grooves when the bolt is in still another one of itspositions, the bolt being provided with an 5 5 axial bore, arcuategrooves communicating with the bore, and longitudinal slots at rightangles to the ribs communicating With the bore and arcuate slots. Y

FRANK S. BURNS. 60 GEORGE M. HELF.

